Juventus remain the team to beat in Serie A this season, but their stacked squad is in desperate need to be cut down slightly. The wage bill at the champions is huge, and should they want to bring in any new players over the winter window they will have to offload some of their unused talent.
The talent that they have in the current squad ensures that they are among the favourites to win the Champions League.
It was believed in the summer that Paolo Dybala was among the players shunted by Maurizio Sarri, but the Argentine has played his way back into the side in fine fashion. His importance in the side was shown as he scored the winner in their crucial group-deciding clash with Atletico Madrid recently where he scored the winner from a free-kick.
However, some of the other players in the squad haven’t been able to impress Sarri and will now be looking for a new challenge elsewhere when the transfer window reopens. But, which players look set to be departing Turin?
Emre Can
One man that certainly looks to be heading towards the exit door is Emre Can. The German international hasn’t impressed Sarri since he arrived in the summer and has fallen down the pecking order in a stacked position for the Old Lady.
It isn’t surprising that he isn’t getting much time on the pitch when you consider that he is competing against Aaron Ramsey, Miralem Pjanic and Blaise Matuidi for minutes.
Can has only made four appearances this season, which has equated to just 171 minutes of action. He is yet to register a goal or assist but has achieved a brilliant pass completion rate of 93.4%.
There are a host of clubs bidding for his signature, with Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund among those. The latter of those could be his most likely destination, as the 25-year-old has admitted that the prospect of returning to Germany is something that interests him.
Mario Mandzukic
The Croatian striker has been a vital member of the Juventus squad ever since his arrival in 2015. However, his chances this season have been limited as he is yet to make a single appearance in Serie A. He has scored 44 goals in his 162 appearances for the club, but it is unlikely that he will add to that before he departs in January.
He has scored at least ten goals in each of the last ten seasons, and these have been spread around in a selection of some of the top leagues in the world. The run began during his time in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, before he maintained that streak during two seasons with Bayern Munich and one in La Liga with Atletico Madrid. He has scored over ten goals in the four previous seasons with Juventus, but it would seem that a move to the Premier League and Manchester United will be the next step in his illustrious career.
Douglas Costa
There is no doubting the ability of Douglas Costa, but he could be on his way out of Juventus because of one moment of madness last season that has changed his entire career in Turin.
He let the club down last season as he was sent off following an altercation with Federico Di Francesco. Costa elbowed and then spat at the Sassuolo man and was subsequently handed a four-match ban.
He apologised to his teammates and fans but has found himself low down in the pecking order this campaign with Sarri.
He has only started three games in Serie A this season and has made three substitute appearances. For a player of his quality, he would be expecting to be playing more frequently and may look for a route out of the club.
He would certainly be missed; he still boosts a pace that could rival a horse in the Kentucky Derby race. But, since his 29-years-old, the club may look for a younger replacement for the Brazilian.
